Men sentenced in burning of pregnant woman

A judge called a Warren man’s plot to burn and shoot to death his pregnant girlfriend diabolical and cold-blooded before sentencing him to up to life in prison.

“Even though you didn’t light the match or pull the trigger, you orchestrated perhaps one of the most heinous crimes imaginable,” Judge Richard Caretti told Jamal Rogers on Tuesday. “You — diabolically and in cold blood — plotted, schemed and arranged for the murder of your unborn child and your girlfriend, the mother of your unborn child.

“It is difficult for anyone to fathom the depth or breadth of your warped, deviant mind.”

Caretti sentenced Rogers, 23, to 29 to 50 years for attempted murder and concurrently up to life for conspiracy to commit murder for the May 2012 attack on Latonya Bowman, whose son turned 1 during their May trial.

Moments later in a Macomb County Circuit courtroom, Rogers’ co-defendant, Antonio Mathis, who carried out the attack, was sentenced to 50 to 75 years in prison for attempted murder and concurrently up to life for conspiracy to commit murder. Mathis’ sentencing guideline range was higher than Rogers’ because he had more prior convictions.

Caretti also had strong words for Mathis, who was Rogers’ roommate at the time.

“It is difficult to imagine anyone taking on the task you were given by Jamal Rogers,” the judge said. “You were to kidnap, torture by burning and then kill a pregnant Latonya Bowman. Who could do such a thing and then brag about it in an expletive lace tyrad to (Mathis’ friend)?

“It is hard to believe such evil can lurk in the heart of any man. Society can rest easy knowing you will not soon threaten anyone again.”

Mathis, also 23, continued to maintain his innocence, saying he was “betrayed” by his friend, whom he says lied along with Rogers.

He also made reference to the fact that Bowman pretended she was dead during the incident, allowing her to escape.

“I know I’m here today to receive a life sentence and that means I’m dead to society, but just like Latonya Bowman, I will be playing dead,” he said. “I will be back.”

Mathis’ attorney, Joseph Kosmala, and Rogers’ attorney, Azhar Sheikh, agreed that the convictions could be reversed on appeal because the two men were denied separate trials.

Rogers didn’t speak, but Sheikh said, “He’s very, very sorry about what happened as well as he’s very glad (his child) is a happy and healthy child.”

Bowman, who has recovered, watched the sentencings surrounded by about a dozen supporters in the gallery and but did not speak in court. She also declined to speak to reporters afterward, saying she was not ready.

The two life sentences make the convicts eligible for parole after 10 to 15 years but their numerical sentences will delay their potential parole.

Mathis and Rogers received lesser sentences for convictions of unlawful imprisonment and conspiracy to do the same that will run concurrently to the other terms. Mathis also received a two-year term that will run on top of the other terms for felony firearm.

The incident took place over Memorial Day weekend 2012. Bowman and Rogers attended a drive-in movie. She dropped off Rogers at his Sherman Avenue home with Mathis lying in wait in the garage. Mathis abducted her by binding her with duct tape and rope and drove her to an area around Wayne State University or the New Center area in Detroit. She was set on fire with lighter fluid, fell or was pushed out of her vehicle and shot twice.

Bowman snuffed the flames by rolling on the ground and pretended she was dead before driving to a gas station at Grand Boulevard and Brush Street to get help.